Folding top construction



Aug. 10, 1954 c. E. HALE ET AL FOLDING TOP CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1950 INVENTORS cz/rA-oep 4-. M94: w/zz/a 4/2- ms/wm. BY y Afro/P rs Aug. 10, 1954 c. E. HALE ET AL 2,686,078 FOLDING TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS aux-02a 4'. H444- Aug. 10, 1954 c. E. HALE ET AL FOLDING TOP CONSTRUCTION 3 m m H. t 0 w W M M a m? r m m m v z a Filed Jan. 19. 1950 Patented Aug. 10, 1954 Harvester Qnmnany,

rationot Michigan Application January ic, 1950;:seria1' m': 1395364.

sgciai'nls. (01. time;

.The present invention relates 1:170 folding top construction for a motor-vehicle. v

iEolding topseformotor vehicles comprise-essem tiallyl side rails, each of; which is": composed :of a pluralityiofsections; loross bowsfor: supportingzthe fabrictop; and suitable linkage iandspivotceon' nections for interconnecting the sectionsofithe side ,railsi i g Y .Dueto space considerationsiinlcs which are in tendedmosapplyi forces-ate sside rail se'ctions'zzmust necessarily; be placed so that. -they operatewith a' relativelysmall mechanical advantage.

It is an Obj.80tzf"th6 present:invention to-prm' videmeansiorimproving the-mechanical advan tage of'zthe linkage foraefiecting opening and -closing movement vofiioldimg;=tcpconstructions.

. Morespecifically; itiisan object of -the present invention to provide a novel: pivot connection -between side rail? sections-adapted" to increase the mechanical advantage of :theactuating-linkagcat the precise moment. when the maximum effort is required :to effect opening-or closing movement;

. It. is a. further object of the present-invention to provide-a pivot connection"between-adjacent sections ofa .siderail of .a folding tcpflconstruction comprising-a pin :andslotlconnection betweensaid' sections in combination with a l pair of coopcrat-' ingv abutments vatithe adjacent en'ds -ofsaid secticns, the parts .being arranged such vthatinitial swinging on rocking movement'- between I the sections; takes. placeabOut: a pivot axis: establishedby the contact'between said abutments, this ino tion being accomplished by relative slidingbetween the pin and slot, and-furtherswinging or rocking movement between the sections takes place about the pin after'thepin has 're'ached'one enact the cooperating slot;

More specifically, it is: an o'bject -of the present invention toprovide a folding top construction-in which a novel pivot vconnection is" providedintermediate adjacent rail sections, the pivot connec tion'being elfective to -increase the mechanical advantageof actuating linkage interconnecting the'sectionsupon' movcment 'towar'd and from fully extendeol'position. e

Other objects and features of'the inventionwill become apparent as the description proceeds, especiallywhen taken 'in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1; is avertical'section throughthe fold ing; top construction showing the top in open: or fully extendedpositio'n;

Figure 2 is a view similarl toFigure l illustrat nshe ton-in nartia-llywopen position;

. Fi re a view: similar; tcrFieure 1 illus-i trating the top incompletely foldedtposition: Figure- 411s anienlargedsectional view illustratins ftheindvbl -pivot{commotion-between the side rails and the linkage interconnected thereto;

t Figure 5 is*avverl;ical: section= throughthe :sp'ecificlz'wpiv'ot;connection illustrating the side rail sections ingfull'y extended position;

cFligureffiisza' view similarto-Figure '5 -il1ustrat-'v ingiwthe side rail sections in :the position which they occupy iafterxlimite'd 1 relative pivotalmovemenir."

Fi ure"? is a-Qview similar'to=F!igure =5-illustratiriggthe side rail sections in an intermediate posi tioni'. c

Figure 18": is a sectional view on "the =line "8 -8 Figure 5;:

*Eigurefi is .wsectional; view on the 5 line 9 9, Figure 5;

ReIerringnowto Figures' l, 2'and="3 thereisillustrated a folding top -construction -fo'r a motor vehicle; Portions: ofi-"the" 1 motor vehicle are indicated in dolt and-dashlines-such-foreXa'niPle as the --'windshield' fram 5| e, the -windshield header i2 fandiportionskof the body l4. Theiolding-ton construction comprises-"side {rails indicated gener'a'l'ly mt-5 each'of the side rails being composed of wfrcnt section .223 an intermediate' section "24 and a rear sectioniii if-he rear-sid-rziil section 28 iis=-pivoted to a pillar casting "28, the pivotbein'gj indicatel at iwz The-pillar C'a SfiIAg ZB is in turn mounted oii'-a"fi'xed=pivot 32 which constitutesthe:

main pivot supportforthe entire-folding top con struction. The forward end of-the-front sections 22 of 'the' -side rails are interccnnectedby a umna verselyextending header bar 34 to "which is se cured' -t-he forward end *of the flexible top 3 6; the

lattei eing formed of' a water-proof fabric or other suitable material. The flexible top- 3K5? at its reafend' is connected to the hcdy of 'fthB"Veh icle-as dicated a t 38. Intermediate'the forward and ii t endsof the =iiexible top' area plurality of cross=bowfs adaptedio support tnet p'in 1e; sired position whenthe-foldingtop-construction is fully extended;

which areinwhee on fixed pivots 44; The

assumes its raised; position as indicated in Fig:

cross bow 4B is not connected bylinkage ensue d movement of j vided and are connected to elements of the top construction as will subsequently be described.

In order to effect controlled guided movement of the top construction between closed and open position, a power device herein illustrated as a hydraulic cylinder 52 is provided which is pivoted as indicated at 54 within the body of the vehicle. Within the cylinder 52 is a piston connected by a piston rod 56 to a power link 56, the pivot connection between the piston rod 56 and the power link 58 being indicated at I60. The power link at its opposite end is pivotally connected to the pillar casting 28 by a pivot connection illustrated at 62. In order to effect guided movement of the parts actuated thereby, the power link 58 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to a guide link 64, the opposite end of the guide link being mounted on a fixed pivot as indicated at 66. The movable end of the guide link 64 is provided with a pivot connection 68 to the power link.

At their forward ends the pillar castings 28 are interconnected by the cross bow 46 previously referred to.

The rear side rail sections 26 have rearwardly extending arms 13 which are pivoted to the movable ends of balance links "I2, the pivot connection between these parts being illustrated at 14. The balance links I2 at their opposite ends are provided with fixed pivot mountings 16.

The rear side rail sections 26 are connected to the intermediate side rail sections 24 by pivot connections indicated generally at 80, which pivot connections are of special design to carry into efiect the objects of the present invention and will be described subsequently in considerable detail. Extending forwardly from adjacent forward ends of the pillar casting 28 are links 82, the links being pivoted to the pillar casting as indicated at 84 at one end and being pivoted at their forward ends to links 86, the pivot connections being illustrated at 88. Cross bow 46 is connected at its ends to the ends of pillar castings 28. The links 86 at their forward ends carry the cross bow 43 and at their rear ends are pivotally connected to the rear side rail sections 26, these pivot connections being illustrated at 90. Links 92 are provided which are pivoted at their rear ends to the forward ends of the links 86, the pivot connections being illustrated at 94. At their forward ends the links 92 are pivotally connected to the rear ends of the front side rail sections 22, the pivot connections being illustrated at 96. Intermediate their ends the links 92 are pivotally connected to the intermediate side rail sections 24, the pivot connections being indicated at 9B. A link I is provided interconnecting the front side rail sections 22 and the intermediate side rail sections 24, this link having a pivot connection I02 at its forward end to an intermediate portion of the front side rail section 22, and a pivot connection I04 at its rear end to the forward end of the intermediate side rail section 24. The forward ends of the intermediate side rails 24 are interconnected by the cross bow 50 previously referred to.

Experience has indicated that a maximum force is required to effect initial movement of the top construction towards folded position from fully extended position as shown in Figure 1. In other words, the maximum effort is required when the adjacent ends of the side rail sections are moving out of substantial alignment.

The initial force required to break the joints 4 or pivot connections between adjacent ends of the side rail sections includes the link 82 which operates in tension upon initial movement of the parts from the position shown in Figure 1. The link 82 operates directly on the link 86 which in turn is connected to the link 92 to apply folding or collapsing force to the intermediate side rail section 24. Thus the requirement for initial folding movement of the top is to effect a clockwise rotation of the side rail section 24 about the pivot connection relative to the rear side rail section 26. Obviously, the line of action of the power transmitting linkage is relatively close to the pivot 80 and this position is dictated by space considerations which cannot be changed.

According to the present invention however, the pivot 80 is so constructed that initial movement between the side rail sections 24 and 26 from open position, or final movement of these side rail sections into fully extended position, is accomplished about an axis which is removed from the line of the actuating linkage by as great a distance as possible. Thus, the force applied through the linkage is more effective due to its substantially increased lever arm which results from employing the specific pivot connection 80.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6, '7, 8 and 9, the detailed construction of the pivot connection 60 is illustrated. At the rear end of the intermediate side rail section 24 there is provided an upstanding projection I0 which is slotted as indicated at H2 to provide spaced ears H4. The forward end of the rear side rail section 26 is provided with an upwardly extending projection H6 having a forwardly extending portion H8 adapted to enter into the space between the ears H4. The portion H8 is provided with an elongated slot I20 which receives a pin I22 carried at its opposite ends by the ears H4.

The end surfaces of the side rail sections 24' and 26 are each provided with recesses I24 into which headed inserts I26 are inserted, these headed inserts having rounded heads I28 as best seen in Figure '7 and preferably being of hardened steel to provide long wearing bearing surfaces. In order to reduce the weight of the parts making up the folding top construction the side rail sections are preferably formed of aluminum or other light metal and accordingly the headed insorts of hardened steel I26 are desirable to avoid excessive wear which would otherwise occur.

Referring first to Figure 5 the side rail sections 24 and 26 are illustrated in fully open position at which time the heads I28 of the inserts I26 are in engagement and the pin I22 is at the left hand end of the slot I20. Accordingly, initial relative rocking movement between the sections 24 and 26 takes place about a pivot determined by the engagement between the abutments or heads I28, this motion being accompanied by movement of the pin I22 toward the right hand end of the slot I20. In Figure 6 there is illustrated a limiting condition when relative rocking movement between the sections 24 and 26 has taken place to such an extent that the pin I22 has reached the right hand end of the slot I20. It will be observed that at this time further rocking motion between the sections 24 and 26 will take place about a pivot axis determined by the location of the pin I22 at the right hand end of the slot I20, this condition being illustrated in Figure '7.

Referring now to Figure 4 and review ng the operation of the special pivot connection 80, it

will be observed that the linkage has a line of action which is necessarily relatively close to the axis of the pin I22 and accordingly it is effective to exert a very small mechanical advantage. However, by providing the abutments I28 substantially below the axis of the pins I22, the mechanical advantage of the link is multiplied two or three times. By the time the side rail sections 24 and 29 have reached the position illustrated in Figure 6, the link 86 will have swung upwardly about its pivot connection 99 to an extent where the linkage has attained a substantial mechanical advantage with respect to further rocking movement between the sections 24 and 26 about the axis of the pin I22.

In actual practice it is of course apparent that the power which must be applied through the hydraulic cylinder 52 is determined by the power which is required to move the side rail sections into or out of fully extended position. Initial movement from folded position takes place with very considerable mechanical advantage and relatively small power is required. In a corresponding way movement of the folding top construction from a position in which the top has begun to fold takes place with considerable mechanical advantage.

According to the present invention a construction is provided which reduces the power necessary to move the elements of the folding top construction out of fully extended position by a very substantial factor and accordingly permits the use of a power cylinder 52 having correspondingly less power.

The present construction therefore has the effect of reducing the power requirements for moving the folding top construction between its extended and collapsed position without requiring modification of the actuating linkage, the construction and dimensions of which are substantially limited by considerations of the space available for this mechanism.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved folding top construction in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a folding top construction for motor vehicles, a pair of side rails, each of said rails comprising a pair of elongated sections, pivot means connecting the adjacent ends of said sections providing for relative swinging movement therebetween, an actuator connected to one of said sections having a line of action close to the adjacent ends of said sections, said pivot means comprising ears extending laterally from the adjacent ends of said sections at the side thereof toward which said sections move in folding from aligned position, a pin and-slot connection between said ears, said slot being disposed generally longitudinally of the side rail established by bringing said sections into alignment, abutment members at the adjacent ends of said sections spaced substantially from said pin and slot connection, said abutments and said pin and slot connection being constructed and arranged to provide for initial swinging movement from aligned position to take place about a first axis established by the contact between said abutments and to be accompanied by sliding of said pin in said slot, and further swinging movement after the pin has reached an end of said slot to take place about the axis of said pin.

2. Structure defined in claim 1 in which the extended position of said sections is determined by engagement between said pin and the other end of said slot, and engagement between said abutments.

3. Structure as defined in claim 2 in which said abutments have convexly rounded engaging surfaces to provide rolling contact therebetween.

4. In a folding top for a vehicle body, side rail sections pivotally connected at one end to said body arranged in substantially longitudinally aligned relationship when the top is in an open position and adapted to swing angularly relative to each other as the top is moved towards a folded position, link means extending lengthwise closely along said aligned rail sections operatively connected to a forward rail section adapted to exert pull on the forward section to initiate angular movement of one rail section relative to the other during folding of the top, a lost motion pivotal connection between adjacent ends of said rail sections, said lost motion connection permitting initial angular movement of the sections without said connection forming a pivoting abutment, abutment means at adjacent ends of the rail sections engaging each other at a point located further from the link means than said lost motion pivotal connection about which the rail sections pivot during initial angular swinging movement of the side rail sections as a result of pulling action of the link means, and said lost motion pivotal connection providing a second pivoting abutment after predetermined angular movements of the side rail sections.

5. In a folding top for a vehicle body, a series of hinged side rail members pivotally connected at one end to said body arranged in substantially aligned relationship when the top is in an open position and adapted to swing angularly relative to each other as the top is moved towards a folded position, a series of hinged link members extending lengthwise along and closely adjacent said rail members and operatively connected to a forward rail member for exerting pull thereon to initiate hinged movements of the members relative to each other during folding of the top, a pin and slot connection between adjacent ends of one pair of said members with a major dimension of the slot disposed generally parallel to the length of the members, and abutment means at adjacent ends of the same pair of members engaging each other at a point located further from the members of the other series than said pin and slot connection whereby said pair of members pivot initially about said abutment means and said pin and slot connection provides a second pivoting abutment after a predetermined angular movement of the members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 206,226 Butler July 23, 1878 472,622 Linkletter Apr. 12, 1892 1,257,187 Carr Feb. 19, 1913 1,337,817 Bode Apr. 20, 1920 2,016,598 Field Oct. 8, 193-5 2,042,886 Ferguson June 2, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 253 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1903 439,050 France June 4, 1912 

